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Leaders of the Labour Party in North East Lincolnshire have hit back at the MP for Cleethorpes for his "petulant" remarks saying that he is always trying to "put the borough down".

Conservative MP for Cleethorpes and Immingham Martin Vickers earlier this week branded the Lib Dems support for the council's labour administration a "coalition of losers", saying that they were "propping up the biggest losers in the local election".

Now Leader of the Labour Council Ray Oxby and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Assets, Skills and Housing councillor Peter Wheatley have criticised the backbencher's comments, describing him as "petulant" and constantly knocking the borough when "he should be supporting everyone in it".

Councillor Ian Barfield, left, leader of the local Liberal Democrats, with councillor Ray Oxby, Labour's leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, after it was announced the two parties will be working together (Image: Rick Byrne)

They also felt that the statements were "quite out of the ordinary" for the normally "statesman like" MP, and that it was "a bit rich" for him to criticise the Liberal Democrats for supporting their party, as the Conservatives have entered into actual coalitions with them on a local and national level and are also currently being supported by the DUP in government.

Councillor Oxby said: "I was quite surprised to see the remarks made by Martin, who normally acts in such a statesman like manner.

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"I think that he may be a little bit upset that our party managed to make such swift and successful progress with the Liberal Democrats in our negotiations, and it has obviously taken him and the Tories off guard.

"To make the remarks as we are in the middle of announcing huge investment programmes and opportunities for the borough, is rather unexpected, as we are showing that we have a clear vision for North East Lincolnshire to bring jobs and improve the area for everyone.

Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, has been called out by Labour for criticising the Lib Dems support of their party

"I did not expect these petulant remarks form Martin, especially considering his party's track record of entering into coalitions and agreements.

"They are currently being propped up by the DUP, and have entered into numerous coalitions with the Liberal Democrats on a local and national level. In fact in the time of Grimsby Borough Council they even tried to partner up with the Social Democratic Party when they split from Labour."

"But lately he seems determined to keep putting the borough down and knocking it.

"He can complain about issues such as fly-tipping and the street scene, which we have committed to making improvements to, but the reality is that we are receiving far less support from his Conservative Government, loosing out on £80m worth of funding from the revenue support grant since 2011.

"We have a clear plan for the future to bring job and investment to the borough, while also seeking to help the most vulnerable in our society.

"I think it is about time that he started to show the area some support instead of trying to bring its currently glowing reputation down."

The Liberal Democrat Party announced on Monday that it would support the new Labour administration in the council on a confidence and supply basis.

What Martin Vickers said about the partnership

The Conservative MP for Cleethorpes has branded the Liberal Democrat support for the council's Labour administration a "Coalition of Losers".

He blasted the Lib Dems for "keeping a failing Labour administration in power", and calling the agreement reached by the parties "a coalition of losers".

He said: "I feel sure that voters will be surprised and amazed that the LibDems have teamed up with the biggest losers, namely Labour, at the recent elections. From Scartho to Freshney, Croft Baker to Immingham Labour lost seats‎ and for the LibDems to prop them up is a massive political misjudgement.

"The voters gave their verdict and the two parties should respect that. Will the streets be cleaner, recycling rates improve or the Toll Bar roundabout scheme be abandoned?

"Maybe their first move will be to reconsider Toll Bar. After all you can perform a u-turn at a roundabout but not at traffic lights."